CARY, N.C. — Senior Miriam Duen went 3-for-3 with two runs scored and classmate Aleyah Evans drove in a pair of runs on two hits as the duo came up big in their last home game in leading the North Carolina Central University softball team past rival North Carolina A&T State University, 8-5, in Sunday's Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Southern Division finale Sunday afternoon at Thomas Brooks Park.
 
NCCU improved to 20-24 on the season and finished league play at 10-5. The 20 wins is the most victories in regular season play in the programs' NCAA Division I era while the 10 MEAC wins are the most triumphs since joining the conference.
 
NCCU took the initial 2-0 lead with a pair of runs in the bottom of the second. Junior Tamiera Sanchez started the rally with a single up the middle and a stolen base. Sanchez then scored on a single by Evans. The Lady Eagles tacked on a second run in the second run with a double steal as Duen swiped second and sophomore Kaitlyn Macon had a delayed steal home on the throw down to second by the catcher.
 
The Aggies jumped ahead with a five-run fourth inning. The frame featured five N.C. A&T hits, including a two-run double by sophomore Hailee Cutts and a two-run single by senior Mohagony Headen.
 
Three consecutive one-out hits in the bottom of the fourth helped NCCU pull the deficit to 5-4. Macon singled off the glove of the diving right fielder and Duen followed with a hard-hit single that the first baseman was unable to corral. Sophomore Jessica Powell knocked in junior pinch runner Tehillah Duffy with a deep double to left field and sophomore Jacobia Johnson plated Duen moments later with an RBI-groundout.
 
The Eagles then flew ahead with four more runs in the fifth. Junior Dalika Wallace doubled to start the comeback, her second hit of the contest. Wallace trotted home to knot the score on Evans' second RBI, a ground-rule double down the left field line. Macon drove in the go-ahead run on a fielder's choice ground ball RBI. Duen was responsible for the final two runs, knocking in Evans with a single and then stealing home on another double steal started by Powell swiping second base.
 
Sophomore starting pitcher Kiara Hurley hurled another complete-game victory. Hurley (14-12) used four strikeouts and only gave up one other hit other than the five she allowed in fourth.
 
The maroon and gray doubled up the visitors, 12-6, in the hit column. Duen paced the pack with her three singles, two stolen bases, two runs scored and one RBI. Evans and Wallace followed with two hits apiece.
 
NC Central will conclude its regular season play with a single non-conference game at University of North Carolina on Tuesday at 7 p.m.